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Mackinac Island Workers

Mackinac Island workers gather on the Island each season to provide goods and services for residents and tourists alike. For many, one summer is all it takes to fall in love with this magical place which makes it not at all uncommon for them to return year after year.

Let us know if you get a job on the Island...and we will meet you and take your photo and put you on this Mackinac Island Insider Tips'Island Workers Page.

Hailing from Rochester, Michigan, Megan is earning money this summer as a waitress at The Village Inn. She is a summer cottage resident and enjoys biking as her mode of transportation. Megan attends Michigan State University where she studies Elementary Education. She is one of many Mackinac Island workers who earn money for school during the busy summer season. Megan is pictured serving lunch to Pat and her friends.

Shown here with his team Rachel and Bruce, Ron, from Cedarville, Michigan, has been driving taxis for 29 years. It would be 30 years but he decided to try welding as a job one summer. It only took that one season for Ron to decide his career path.

He told us, “I’d rather look at the behind of horses than weld”!

Judy has her hands full as a barn manager for 70 horses! Those in her charge qualify as Mackinac Island workers too!

Dale and Tom faithfully pick-up recycle materials bi-weekly. Their team of horses is well trained and waits patiently at each stop as these Mackinac Island workers sort the materials. Dale and Tom also do weekly trash pick-up for Island residents. Dale grew up on Mackinac Island and Tom is from St. Ignace.

When asked how long she has worked at The Mustang, Adele smiled and said, “forever”! She loves people and the social aspect of her job. She was born and raised in Hancock, Michigan and “hibernates” there every winter to ready herself for the fun and activity of each summer season.

Claire has two jobs. She works at Waterfront Chillin’ and Grillin’ Café as well as at Wawashkamo Golf Club. She attends Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, but her family home is in Grass Lake, Michigan. An Island summer resident, she loves riding her horses, however, she bikes to work. It’s easier to find parking for a long shift! Her favorite thing about the Island is its unique ambiance.

Debra, a year-round Island resident, has worked for the United States Post Office for 17 years. She really enjoys her job stating that she loves meeting people from all over the world. The cruise ship passengers often stop in to send mail to their home countries and Debra likes talking with them. She always gives a warm greeting and a welcoming smile, making a visit to the Post Office fun, not a chore!

Jack is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and attends University of Michigan. He is bussing tables at the Iroquois Hotel this summer. He likes his job stating that he is always busy and his co-workers are very nice. It’s fun to meet some of the cute girls that come into the restaurant with their families! Making the most of his time off, Jack is pictured here getting ready for a golf game at Wawashkamo Golf Club.

Jill has been coming to Mackinac Island since 1972 when she was employed by the Chippewa Hotel. For the past eight years, she has worked at the Island Book Store. Her great smile and willingness to help anyone encompasses everything a friendly hometown should be. Besides Jill, she is affectionately known as Jillski, Bookstore Jill and Jillsey.

John has worked for Mackinac State Historic Parks since June 6, 1988. He is in charge of maintenance for all historic buildings in the downtown area. You may even see him at the Non-denominational Historic Mission Church making sure that everything is in perfect order before each wedding or special event. For the four months of the year when he is not at the State Park, John does maintenance at home in St. Ignace, Michigan for his wife Merri Kay and his daughters-in-law!

Todd works for Doud’s Grocery where he handles stocking the shelves, checking deliveries, pricing, and other stock-related duties. He has worked at Doud’s for three months and before that was a dray driver for eight years. Josh is pictured driving the dray laden with supplies for Doud’s. When he is not working, he lives in St. Ignace.

Brant has worked for the Mackinac State Historic Park as a "pooper scooper" for five years. He commutes to work from Cheboygan, Michigan with several of his friends who are also Mackinac Island workers. In his free time, he presents programs with his father about his Native American heritage at various schools in the area.

Justin, from Mayville, Michigan has worked three years for Mackinac State Historic Parks tending the Arch Rock and Fort Holmes areas. For his second job, he works as a "pooper scooper" for the Carriage Tours. When asked why he likes Mackinac Island, he said that it has become his second home, the people are friendly, and he meets a lot of new friends.

Sasha is from Jamaica and heard about the Island from her aunt and cousin who are also Mackinac Island workers. This is her second summer and she is employed at the Cannonball Restaurant at British Landing. Sasha says that the Island is a wonderful "get-away spot" for her. She finds it very relaxing and pollution free!

John has worked on Mackinac Island since 1991 at the Seabiscuit for six years. He and his wife, Zelda, are year-round Island residents. All four of their children have worked on Mackinac at one time or another. John’s friendly and winning personality makes visiting the Seabiscuit a delightful experience. He really enjoys the people he works with and for! He also has his own company, Mackinac Watch, Inc. and that keeps him busy in the off-season. John checks on Island homes and cottages making sure that everything is secure.

You will find Bree at the Seabiscuit Cafe on Main Street. You can’t miss her great smile and wonderful laugh. Hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, she has spent five summers in the ranks of Mackinac Island workers and says “I love the Island, it is paradise”! Bree enjoys meeting new people throughout the summer and is known for making awesome cosmos!

Sheryl has worked for the State of Michigan for 37 years and has been with the Mackinac State Historic Parks for nine years. She is the Executive Assistant to Director Phil Porter as well as clerk to the State Park Commission. She loves her job stating that it is exciting and fast paced and she feels blessed to have this position. Sheryl greets everyone with a warm smile and is always a picture of professionalism.

Originally from Rogers City and now from Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Jolene is the Public Relations and Marketing Officer for Mackinac State Historic Parks. Her position gives her the opportunity to "meet so many great people from this country and the world."